BNP demands judicial probe into extrajudicial killings

BNP Vice-Chairman Abdullah Al Noman, centre, at a discussion at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Monday, June 4, 2018 Focus Bangla

Innocent people have been killed in the name of the anti-narcotics drives

BNP has demanded a high-profile judicial investigation into the extrajudicial killings carried out by the law enforcement agencies during the ongoing nationwide anti-narcotics drives.

"Innocent people have been killed in the name of these drives. We want those involved in the killings to be put on trial," said BNP Vice-Chairman Abdullah Al Noman while speaking at a discussion at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Monday.

He said: "We think a judicial probe body, headed by an Appellate Division judge, should be formed to investigate these killings."

Noman said the family members of those subjected to extrajudicial killings would not get justice if the investigation was done by magistrates or the administration.

About the death of Teknaf Municipality councillor Ekramul Haque, he said many innocent people like Ekram were killed on political grounds.

Ekram, an upazila-level leader of ruling Awami League, was killed in a reported gunfight with Rapid Action Battalion personnel in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar on May 26.

RAB claimed he was involved in drug dealing, but his family refuted their claim and alleged that Ekram was killed in cold blood, not in any gunfight as the anti-crime task force claimed.

BNP leader Noman on Monday said human rights bodies at home and abroad had become vocal against the extrajudicial killings urging the government to stop it.

"Such killing is a sin and an unlawful and inhuman act in a democratic society."

Noman said the government would make its all-out efforts to hold the next general elections keeping BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in jail as it was afraid of her.

Under the circumstances, he said, BNP must intensify the party's movement to have Khaleda freed from jail.